"Despair is only for those who see the end beyond all doubt. We do not"

Despair often feels like an inescapable shadow, doesn’t it? But if you think about it, it’s really something that creeps in when we believe we know the absolute outcome of our situation—when we’re convinced there’s no hope left. Here’s the thing: we rarely, if ever, know the future with absolute certainty. That’s the core idea here. Despair is a result of seeing doom as inevitable, but the reality is, there’s always a chance things will turn around.

This idea came from J.R.R. Tolkien’s epic tale, *The Lord of the Rings*. Gandalf, the wise wizard, says this to his friend Pippin during one of the darkest moments in the story. At that point, it seems like evil is about to triumph. But Gandalf reminds Pippin—and us, the readers—that it’s impossible to know the future with absolute certainty. This is a powerful reminder that as long as the ending isn’t written in stone, there’s room for hope.

Imagine you’ve been working on a big project at work for months. You’re facing tight deadlines, and everything seems to be going wrong. You start to feel like you’ll never finish on time, and even if you do, it won’t be good enough. Now, if you let yourself believe that failure is the only possible outcome, you’re essentially closing off any chances of success. But if you remember Gandalf’s wisdom, you realize that the end isn’t fixed, and there’s still plenty you can do. Maybe there’s a colleague who can help, or perhaps there’s a creative solution you haven’t thought of yet.

So, how do you apply this wisdom in your day-to-day life? First off, catch yourself when you start to spiral into those thoughts of certainty about failure. Ask yourself: “Do I really know the future?” Chances are, you don’t. Next, focus on what you can control. Break down the problem into smaller, manageable parts and tackle them one by one. And finally, don’t be afraid to ask for help. Life isn’t meant to be faced alone, and sometimes, just talking things out with a friend can provide a new perspective.

Here’s a little story to illustrate this. Think about Jamie, an aspiring writer who just received her tenth rejection letter from publishers. She’s on the brink of giving up, feeling like her dream is never going to happen. But then she remembers a piece of advice from a mentor: until you’re certain of the end, keep going. Jamie decides to keep submitting her manuscript while also working on a new story. Months later, she gets a call from a small publishing house that loves her new work. They want to publish it and are even interested in her earlier manuscript.

See, Jamie didn’t let the certainty of failure take root. She kept going, knowing that the future was unwritten. And it paid off. So next time you’re feeling like the end is near and it’s all doom and gloom, remember Gandalf’s words. The end is never as certain as it seems. There’s always hope, always another move you can make, another door that might open. Hold on to that, and you’ll find the strength to keep pushing forward.